USPTO Patents Application 09701705

Application No. 09/701,705

Amendment "I" dated December 15, 2008

Reply to Office Action mailed September 15, 2008

REMARKS

These remarks and the accompanying amendments are responsive to the Office Action
made final and dated September 15, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the "Office Action"). At the
time of the last examination, Claims 1, 2, 4-6, 8, 18-20, 22, 23, 33-37, 47, 49 and 53-85 were
pending, of which Claims 1, 4-6, 8, 18, 19, 23, 33, 35-37, 47, 49, 53, 54, 62, 69, 70, 78 and 85
are independent. The Office Action rejected independent Claims 62, 78, allowed Claims 1, 2, 4-
6, 8, 18-20, 22, 23, 33-37, 47, 49, 53-61, 64-77 and 80-85 and objected to dependent Claims 63
and 79.

Section 4 of the Office Action rejects Claim(s) 62 and 78 under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as
being unpatentable over non-patent literature by Andoh (IEEE, "Channel Estimation Using Time
Multiplexed Pilot Symbols for Coherent Rake Combining for DS-CDMA Mobile Radio") in
view of United States patent number 6,487,236 issued to Iwamatsu et al. (the patent hereinafter
referred to simply as "Iwamatsu"). Claims 63 and 79 are objected as being dependent upon a
rejected based claim.

Claims 62 and 78 are amended herein. The amendments are supported by the description
of the fourth embodiment and the corresponding Figures 30 A and 3 0B. No new matter is
introduced. In Figure 3 OA, for example, the channel estimation units 2-1, 2-2, ... , 2-N are
examples of a channel estimation means in Claim 62. In Figure 30B, for example, the reliability
unit 9 is an example of the reliability judging means in Claim 62.

There are several features of Claim 62 that are not described, taught or suggested by
Andoh or Iwamatsu, either singly or in combination. In the manner recited in Claims 62 and 78,
a plurality of channel estimation values are derived by weighted averaging of a single pilot signal
using a plurality of predetermined weighting sequences. Ando discloses a channel estimation

Page 30 of 32

Application No. 09/701,705

Amendment "I" dated December 15, 2008

Reply to Office Action mailed September 15, 2008

scheme in which only one channel estimation value £Jn) is derived from a pilot signal (a
sequence of pilot symbols in a plurality of slots) for one finger. Iwamatsu does not disclose
channel estimation or weighted averaging.

According to Claims 62 and 78, a plurality of demodulated data sequences are derived
from the data sequence by performing phase correction in which said plurality of channel
estimation values are applied to the data sequence, and one of the demodulated data sequences is
selected based on the reliabilities of said plurality of demodulated data sequences. Ando does
not disclose generation of demodulated data sequences resulting from phase correction, and
therefore do not disclose selection of one of the demodulated data sequences. Although Ando
disclose a plurality of channel estimation values ^i(n) which are supplied to the RAKE combiner,
the RAKE combiner does not perform phase correction and does not generate a plurality of
demodulated data sequences. Iwamatsu does not disclose that a plurality of demodulated data
sequences are derived from the data sequence by performing phase correction in which said
plurality of channel estimation values are applied to the data sequence. Claim

Accordingly, Claims 62 and 78 are very different from the art of record. In addition, the
disclosure that supports Claims 62 and 78 makes it possible to output the most suitable
demodulated data sequence derived from the weighting sequence which is the most suitable for
the actual mobile communication environment among all weighting sequences. This advantage is
not obtained by Andoh Iwamatsu.

Accordingly, Claims 62 and 78 are not anticipated nor rendered unpatentable over Andoh
and Iwamatsu. Thus, the 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection should be withdrawn.

Page 31 of 32

Application No. 09/701,705

Amendment "I" dated December 15, 2008

Reply to Office Action mailed September 15, 2008

In the event that the Examiner finds remaining impediment to a prompt allowance of this
application that may be clarified through a telephone interview, the Examiner is requested to
contact the undersigned attorney.

Dated this 15 th day of December, 2008.

Respectfully submitted,

/ADRIAN J. LEE/

Adrian J. Lee
Registration No. 42,785
Attorney for Applicants
Customer No. 022913

AJL:ger

Page 32 of 32